TORONTO (Interstat) — Gabriel Landeskog scored twice, including the tiebreaking goal in the third period, and the Colorado Avalanche defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-3 on Tuesday night at Scotiabank Arena. Colorado improved to 11-8, while Toronto fell to 8-12. The announced attendance was 18,853. The National Hockey League game featured a back-and-forth finish after Toronto erased a two-goal deficit in the third period.

Devon Toews was Colorado’s top star with a goal and an assist and two shots on goal. Cale Makar had two assists, and Mackenzie Blackwood made 28 saves on 31 shots. Brock Nelson, Artturi Lehkonen and Martin Necas also scored for the Avalanche, with Necas adding an empty-net goal. Nazem Kadri contributed an assist and five shots on goal, and Sam Malinski had an assist, two shots and two hits. Toews had a goal and an assist after recording an assist in the previous game against Detroit and a goal and an assist against Chicago earlier in the season.

Toronto was led by Jack Roslovic, who had a goal and an assist and five shots on goal, and Easton Cowan, who had a goal and an assist and four shots. Auston Matthews had an assist, four shots and three hits. Darren Raddysh also scored for the Maple Leafs. The Maple Leafs opened the scoring at 3:33 of the first period when Raddysh scored on a slap shot from Matthews and Roslovic. Colorado responded late in the first period. Nelson tied it at 16:09 from T.J. Hughes and Jaden Schwartz, and Landeskog put the Avalanche ahead at 17:26 from Nicolas Roy and Makar.

The Avalanche extended the lead in the second period when Toews scored at 6:31 from Logan O’Connor and Parker Kelly, finishing a wrist shot after Colorado worked the puck into the offensive zone. Toronto cut the deficit to 3-2 late in the second when Cowan scored from Gavin McKenna and Nick Paul. The Maple Leafs had chances earlier in the period, but Blackwood stopped Roslovic and Matthews on consecutive shots. Colorado nearly regained a two-goal cushion when Landeskog hit the right post at 18:05. The period included penalties to Toronto’s Brandon Duhaime for hooking against Brent Burns and to Colorado’s Martin Necas for high-sticking against Matthews, and Blackwood made a late save on Roslovic to preserve the lead.

The game turned into a back-and-forth third period. Roslovic tied the score at 3-3 at 12:11 from Cowan and Raddysh, quieting the Scotiabank Arena crowd and setting up a tense finish. Landeskog answered at 15:02, scoring his second goal of the game from Kadri and Malinski to put Colorado ahead for good. Before Landeskog’s winner, Kadri had a wrist shot saved and Landeskog sent a tip-in wide. Lehkonen made it 5-3 later in the period from Makar and Toews, and Necas sealed the win with an empty-net goal. Blackwood finished with 28 saves as Toronto pressed for an equalizer. Colorado’s penalty kill and Blackwood’s steady play helped the Avalanche hold off the Maple Leafs after Toronto pulled within one.

The game included three penalties. Toronto’s Duhaime was called for hooking against Burns, and Toronto’s McKenna was called for high-sticking against T.J. Hughes. Colorado’s Necas was called for high-sticking against Matthews. The Avalanche’s special teams and defensive zone play kept the Maple Leafs from building momentum. Colorado had several scoring opportunities in the second period and finished with a strong third period. The Maple Leafs had a late push, but Blackwood made the necessary saves.

Toronto had won the previous meeting between the teams this season, but Colorado answered with a balanced offensive effort. The Avalanche moved the puck well and received contributions from multiple lines. The Maple Leafs kept pressure on at times, but could not solve Blackwood enough in the third period. Colorado’s defense blocked several shots and helped limit Toronto’s quality chances late. The Avalanche improved their record and ended a difficult stretch with a road win. Toronto remained at home and continued to search for consistency. Colorado had won 4-0 over Detroit in its previous game, while Toronto had lost 4-0 to New Jersey in its previous game. Colorado next visits Ottawa, while Toronto hosts Minnesota.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Colorado 3, Toronto 2. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Colorado with a 66.2 percent probability to win. Colorado had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -1.5. The total score of 9 went under the over/under line of 6.5.